MBB: NESCAC

[deiscanton]

The committee will have given Tufts two times for Saturday.  If you ask around the place, someone will know.  There will be a Yeshiva time, probably 8:30, and then a Tufts time (I'd guess 5:30ish by the way they staggered the other times).  They're not waiting to pick a time out of thin air.

I believe that the second round at Cousens Gym will tip at 5:15 PM ET on Saturday if Tufts defeats Yeshiva in the first round.   If Yeshiva wins on Friday, then the second round tip time at Cousens Gym will be at 8:50 PM ET on Saturday.   

That information is courtesy of the Tufts regional tournament website-- http://gotuftsjumbos.com/feature/2025NCAAMHOOPS1ST2NDROUNDS

[nescac1]

All conference out.  Can quibble with a few second team picks but no glaring omissions or inclusions.  Hank Morgan, deservedly, is POTY, and in a no-brainer, Cuevas is ROTY:

https://nescac.com/news/2025/3/6/nescac-news-nescac-announces-mens-basketball-awards.aspx

This is the first time ever that neither Amherst nor Williams has been represented.  Every other NESCAC team had at least one representative.   Biggest surprise to me is Morakis bumped to second team behind Espinosa and Okorougo ...

Trinity not only has two first-teamers and one second-teamer, but all three are back next season.  Quite a loaded Junior class for the Bants. 

Hudson Hansen, Alex Lee, Tristan Joseph, Jack Lawson and Cam Schainfeld are the most notable omissions, I'd say.  But none of them would be clear-cut choices over anyone who made it on. 

[D3BBALL]

My Thoughts.
Regan deserved the player of the year, he did it against every team and in crunch time. And if he was selfish he could have taken more shots and scored close to Morgan. Morgan great year offensively but imo not POY. I get it, but would love to know how the vote went. Maybe a year to have co-players of the year.

The first 7 look right, you could plug 1 or 2 from 2nd team if you wanted, just as NESCAC1 stated.
I think Okorougo over Morakis due to defense maybe.

Singh should not be on 2nd team, he shot 35% and 25% from 3. That is not good especially with a lot open looks with Morgan being doubled. 2nd year in a row he makes it off past reputation.

Agree on Schainfeld, Lee and Lawson.
Would have taken Schainfeld or Lee over Singh.
Would have taken Lawson over Poulton.

Congrats to all that made either team and other awards.

[NESCACBBALLFAN]

I have played against Teja Singh and he is a great player. But that is ridiculous to include him on those splits and if I was any other guard in the NESCAC I would feel slighted. You have to feel for Alex Lee - had objectively a superior year.

I know it's been touched on before, but looking at tenure across the board, crazy to think that Tufts, Trinity, and Wesleyan will be largely comprised of the same roster. Would be either frustrating or motivating depending on the mental fortitude of other teams (or players) in the conference. That Trinity - Wesleyan weekend on the road has to be the hardest two game stretch in D3.

[jumbomumbo]

I have played against Teja Singh and he is a great player. But that is ridiculous to include him on those splits and if I was any other guard in the NESCAC I would feel slighted. You have to feel for Alex Lee - had objectively a superior year.

I know it's been touched on before, but looking at tenure across the board, crazy to think that Tufts, Trinity, and Wesleyan will be largely comprised of the same roster. Would be either frustrating or motivating depending on the mental fortitude of other teams (or players) in the conference. That Trinity - Wesleyan weekend on the road has to be the hardest two game stretch in D3.

Singh is great, but agreed. I have played against all these guys and probably you too. I think Espinosa is a great player but there's an opportunity cost here. No James Morakis on first team is straight blasphemy.

[NESCACBBALLFAN]

I have played against Teja Singh and he is a great player. But that is ridiculous to include him on those splits and if I was any other guard in the NESCAC I would feel slighted. You have to feel for Alex Lee - had objectively a superior year.

I know it's been touched on before, but looking at tenure across the board, crazy to think that Tufts, Trinity, and Wesleyan will be largely comprised of the same roster. Would be either frustrating or motivating depending on the mental fortitude of other teams (or players) in the conference. That Trinity - Wesleyan weekend on the road has to be the hardest two game stretch in D3.

Singh is great, but agreed. I have played against all these guys and probably you too. I think Espinosa is a great player but there's an opportunity cost here. No James Morakis on first team is strength blasphemy.

Are you insinuating that Morakis is better than Espinosa?

[jumbomumbo]

I have played against Teja Singh and he is a great player. But that is ridiculous to include him on those splits and if I was any other guard in the NESCAC I would feel slighted. You have to feel for Alex Lee - had objectively a superior year.

I know it's been touched on before, but looking at tenure across the board, crazy to think that Tufts, Trinity, and Wesleyan will be largely comprised of the same roster. Would be either frustrating or motivating depending on the mental fortitude of other teams (or players) in the conference. That Trinity - Wesleyan weekend on the road has to be the hardest two game stretch in D3.

Singh is great, but agreed. I have played against all these guys and probably you too. I think Espinosa is a great player but there's an opportunity cost here. No James Morakis on first team is strength blasphemy.

Are you insinuating that Morakis is better than Espinosa?

Sure. I haven't seen a guard in D3 with his size, athleticism, skill. He puts kids in a blender

[D3BBALL]

I have played against Teja Singh and he is a great player. But that is ridiculous to include him on those splits and if I was any other guard in the NESCAC I would feel slighted. You have to feel for Alex Lee - had objectively a superior year.

I know it's been touched on before, but looking at tenure across the board, crazy to think that Tufts, Trinity, and Wesleyan will be largely comprised of the same roster. Would be either frustrating or motivating depending on the mental fortitude of other teams (or players) in the conference. That Trinity - Wesleyan weekend on the road has to be the hardest two game stretch in D3.

Agree and if Regan comes back, even tougher.

[D3BBALL]

I have played against Teja Singh and he is a great player. But that is ridiculous to include him on those splits and if I was any other guard in the NESCAC I would feel slighted. You have to feel for Alex Lee - had objectively a superior year.

I know it's been touched on before, but looking at tenure across the board, crazy to think that Tufts, Trinity, and Wesleyan will be largely comprised of the same roster. Would be either frustrating or motivating depending on the mental fortitude of other teams (or players) in the conference. That Trinity - Wesleyan weekend on the road has to be the hardest two game stretch in D3.

Singh is great, but agreed. I have played against all these guys and probably you too. I think Espinosa is a great player but there's an opportunity cost here. No James Morakis on first team is strength blasphemy.

Are you insinuating that Morakis is better than Espinosa?

Sure. I haven't seen a guard in D3 with his size, athleticism, skill. He puts kids in a blender

I agree, I think they are different type players. But Morakis I would pick over Espinosa, close though.

[jumbomumbo]

Morgan was a beast against Wesleyan but Wesleyan won and Regan is my Player of the year. He couldn't have done anything more for that team, and at the end of the day do you want to win or do you want an individual trophy.

 I like winners. Morgan is a winner too, but Regan embodies a "winner" more than anyone in D3. By no means a shot at Hank.

Side note:

HUGE CONGRATS to Hank Morgan's agent. I'm sure he's going to be receiving a massive bonus heading into the overseas recruiting cycle.

[toad22]

The advantage that the voters ( the coaches) have over fans is that have watched hundreds of hours of play of all 11 teams in the league. They have analyzed the play of all the opponent players, and had to formulate game plans against them. They are in a far better position to judge their relative strengths and weaknesses. Though I don't always agree with their decisions, I know that the coaches have seen a lot more than I, or any fan has, and usually get it right. However, everybody gets an opinion.

[toad22]

Btw, I am quite confident that Hank Morgan was the runaway choice for POY.

[jumbomumbo]

Btw, I am quite confident that Hank Morgan was the runaway choice for POY.

I think the numbers in meaningful games tell more of a story. Some of the bottom teams in the league probably voted Hank, those at the top probably Regan.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

From an outside perspective, historically, the NESCAC has definitely rewarded career achievement in their all-conference voting, maybe not more, but as much as any conference.  Unless somebody is undeniably dominant, they usually give it to a consistent senior.

[el_jefe_90]

Both Regan and Morgan deserved to be POTY. I definitely understand the winning side of things, but Morgan's numbers were just too strong to not have him be the POTY. He carried Hamilton into the NCAA Tournament.

While this is POTY and not MVP, it holds value on how much they both mean to their respective teams. You take Regan off of Wesleyan, they aren't 26-1, but 20-22 wins and an NCAA Tourney berth is probably accurate. You take Morgan off of Hamilton, they'd be lucky to be a .500 team. Metaphorically speaking of course since we'll never actually know in this alternate dimension.

I think the NESCAC got most of the All-Teams right. I agree with mumbo and would've swapped Morakis and Espinosa. Singh and Lee's conference numbers weren't all that different. Lee was 39% from the floor and 26% from three with a few more turnovers and less rebounds and assists. Lee for the 2nd straight year had much better out of conference numbers, which may have played a factor.

In my opinion, Jarrel Okorougo was vastly underrated all year. Can defend 1-4 and give you some big time buckets when needed. Largely defends without fouling too which is an art form of its own.

Congrats to all who were awarded by the NESCAC!